In June 2023, 32-year-old Jon'al Pierre White, a former high school football coach, was last seen in Grambling, Louisiana. Originally from New Orleans, White was in the process of completing his bachelor's degree and was staying in the Ruston area at the time of his disappearance. Described by his loved ones as quiet and kind, he was a former athlete who lettered in football and track in high school and played college football at Jones County Junior College and Louisiana Tech.
On June 1, 2023, he boarded a Greyhound bus with a destination of Houston, Texas, where he intended to look for job opportunities. This move was puzzling to his family, as he did not have any relatives in Texas.
Initially, Jon'al maintained contact with his family for a few weeks after arriving in Houston. Lacking a cell phone, he used his laptop and Wi-Fi to communicate with them via Facebook Messenger. However, all communication abruptly ceased in mid-July 2023. His family grew increasingly concerned as time passed with no word from him. A few months later, they discovered some activity on his bank account in Missouri City, Texas, but the account was eventually closed after being overdrawn, adding another layer of complexity to the search. The disappearance took a heavy toll on his family, who described the experience as a nightmare. His mother and siblings were particularly devastated, and the absence of their loved one made holidays and special occasions difficult to celebrate.
Driven by hope and determination, Jon'al's family took extensive measures to find him. They made multiple trips to Houston, distributing flyers and speaking with people in the community in an effort to gather any information they could. In addition to their own efforts, they hired a private investigator to aid in the search. The Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office and the Houston Police Department were both involved in the investigation. After more than a year of uncertainty, there was a significant development in the case. On December 5, 2024, the Gonzalez County Sheriff's Office in Texas received a call about a man wandering along a state highway. The man, who was initially unresponsive and unwilling to identify himself, was taken into custody for his own safety. A search of his belongings revealed his identification, and a subsequent online search confirmed that he was Jon'al White. He was then transported to a hospital to receive care, and his family was notified that he had been found.Last Seen: Jun 1, 2023
